The historic shops La Cité, the textile temple in Nîmes

On nearly 600 m2 "La Cité" has been established in Nîmes since the end of the 19th century. Trade has long been a Gardois institution of textiles and professional clothing with more than 10,000 references.

For 133 years,'La Cité 'has been sitting at the corner of Charles-Baudu and the Curaterie streets. In its majestic building, two floors are filled with a variety of textiles. The ground floor is dedicated to the ready-to-wear of women (for about 25 years) and men. The first floor is dedicated to professional clothing. At this level, cooks, security guards, nurses and many others find the blouses, pennies, caps and shoes essential to their profession.

"Professional clothing accounts for 45% of our sales. Our first competitor is the Internet, but there are no competitors in downtown. In our customers, we have apprentices, employees, professionals, high-flying craftsmen such as the Compagnons du devoir and companies, "stresses Paul Gudicelli, the store manager, who arrived in 1978. It was first under the name "à la Cité Ouvrière" that this business was founded in 1888 by Monsieur Crémieux, a ribbon merchant.

The brand then has a store in Nîmes and another in Alès and specializes in work clothing. At that time, there were no windows and clothes had to be displayed on the street. The models are made directly by seamstresses who work on the second floor. Up to ten of them are active with sewing machines. "we knew how to use natural light at the time with the opening in the centre of the ceiling, but it was very hot in the summer. He has been running the City for almost 44 years.

In the period between the wars, the building grew beautifully and expanded by overflowing over the hotel restaurant adjoining. Verrieres were installed to resemble the Parisian department stores of the time. After the Second World War, commerce became 'the City'. To this day, the store has retained its old look, which makes all its charm. If the staircase has disappeared, the one who replaced it in the 1960s is still worth a detour. Then there are the second and third floors full of ancient objects testifying to the past.

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A true museum on the 133 years of existence of the City. The checkerboard floor, which once covered the entire floor of the three floors, is black and white. This made it easier to verify the cleanliness of the site. On the shelves, old boxes face cash registers from another time. Finally, the famous sewing machines, which are still in operation, have seen so many nîmois and their clothes go by. Building on its past,'La Cité'is diversifying and the store's team (three people) regularly organises events such as plays, exhibitions and book dedications. "the aim is to communicate, but I have found in these events a benevolence and appeasement that is sometimes lacking among traders. "

The city enjoys a great reputation in Nîmes, which is the result of unchanging management for several generations: "we have been here for a long time, to serve our customers. Our trade policy has never changed, we work with the best and most serious European manufacturers, including France. " And Paul Gudicelli adds, "this store is a survivor in the textile sector. "

The manager is proud of his store and what he means to the Nîmois. "recently a lady told me'it feels good in this store'". The centenary resists the difficulties faced by downtown merchants: "we've been through some big storms in recent years and it's the same for other merchants. I try to do the best of the present and the future is very uncertain and uncertain. It is a store that we would like immortal and that will be remembered. Let us hope that this beautiful building will continue to withstand all storms for a long time to come.

Norman Garden.